Justin Gallegos becomes first athlete with cerebral palsy to sign contract with Nike

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By: Sports Desk |
Updated: October 11, 2018 8:44:24 pm

Justin Gallegos became the first professional athlete with cerebral palsy to sign a contract with Nike. (Youtube/Screengrab)

Justin Gallegos, a junior at the University of Oregon, became the first professional athlete with cerebral palsy to sign a contract with Nike. Gallegos was handed the contract by John Douglass, Nike’s insight’s director, and the moment was captured by a film crew from Elevation Om. The video was released on October 6, which is also the World Cerebral Palsy Day.

Reacting to the new contract with Nike, Gallegos said it was perhaps the most emotional moment in the seven years, since he started running. “Today I made Nike history and became the very first athlete with Cerebral Palsy to sign a contract with Nike!” Gallegos wrote on Instagram. “You don’t realize how realistic and emotional your dreams are until they play out before your very eyes! Signing this contract was a huge success for me and I would not have made it without my friends and family and teammates! This was perhaps the most emotional moment in my seven years of running! Growing up with a disability, the thought of becoming a professional athlete is as I have said before like the thought of climbing Mt. Everest!”

The athlete dreams of breaking the two-hour mark in a half marathon. Earlier in April, Gallegos completed his first half marathon in 2:03:49.